In the New Year…

2012 was an amazing, amazing year. It definitely went by a little more quickly than I would have liked, but was a life-changer. Livi was born in the very beginning of the year (I’m still in shock that her birthday is next week!) and we’ve also added a fur sister for Bella. Our house and hearts feel very full and happy.

When I made my inspiration board for 2012, my main goals were to deliver a healthy baby and provide all of the things she needed: love, warmth, food and a safe, happy home. At first, I thought I had a lot of fitness and career-related aspirations, but knew that it was more important to me to focus on my new role as a mom and aim to maintain where I was career-wise. I wanted to enjoy every possible moment with our family and can definitely say I succeeded with that one. From our first year together, from the day we brought Livi home from the hospital to our first Christmas, I have so many beautiful and vivid memories that will stay with me forever.

Fitness-wise, my main goal was to find time to work out again consistently. I missed the mental benefits of working out and eventually was able to get back into a fitness routine, teach classes (and even added some new ones to the rotation that I couldn’t teach while pregnant) and have done two Zumbathons, two halfmarathons, a 10k and a couple of 5ks. My workouts are much shorter now (usually 45 minutes or less) and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This year I’ve learned a lot about prioritizing (if I’m tired, I skip the gym and go to bed early) and time management. It’s an equal mix of planning and flexibility, because I never know what the day will bring.

It has also been a challenging year for Tom and myself. While we’ve certainly been through a lot together (three deployments, countless TDYs, living across the country from each other, moving), becoming parents, while absolutely incredible, can put a different type stress on a marriage. We’re definitely not perfect, but we’ve worked hard as a team this year and have become stronger than we’ve ever been. We’ve experienced high highs, and low lows, all within the span of a year. I couldn’t be more fortunate to have him as a husband, partner and dad to Oliv (and the pups!).

It’s going to be tough for 2013 to beat 2012, but I have a good feeling about it 😉 We want to plan one big trip as a family and will also get a better idea of where we may be living a year from now. I’m excited to see what 2013 will bring 🙂

MY OTHER VIDEOS

Here are some of my goals for the upcoming year:

Personal goals:

-Continue to plan fun adventures with Liv: library, children’s museum, play dates, baby class. Each day, I like to think of something to do, whether it’s a small arts project or impromptu picnic.

-Organize our closet… and keep it clean! I actually went through our closet Sunday night, organized everything and also did Liv’s closet (bringing out clothes that will fit her, packing away the too-small items). Here’s hoping it lasts for more than a week 😉

-Become more efficient at typing on the iPhone. I still miss my Blackberry for this very reason and have the worst time typing on the iPhone. Maybe I just have giant fingers?!

-Continue to make the blog as informational, fun and easy-to-navigate as possible. Along with this, I really need to take some kind of photography class and would also like to improve my Lightroom skills.

-Go to bed earlier. I’ve been saying this for the past couple of months, but it’s gotta happen. Liv goes to bed around 7:30 and Tom and I will end up staying up until midnight. Even if Tom has to stay up to do Master’s homework, I’m going to try and go upstairs by 10 each night at the latest.

-Travel somewhere amazing. We’ve been wanting to go to Italy for years and have put it off due to moving and deployment schedules. We’ve decided to just take Liv with us and go for it. Whether it’s Italy, NYC (my fave!) or somewhere tropical, we’re planning a vacay.

-Read more

-Pray more

-Go on more date nights

-Be the type of person I want to see in others- always working to be more generous, compassionate and kind.

Fitness goals:

-Beat my half marathon PR.

-Lead a Zumbathon.

-Develop a new dance cardio class format.

(my Zumba BFFs)

Career goals:

-I still have no clear idea of what I want to be when I grow up and am always brainstorming things I’d love to start or create. This year is going to be a year for me to explore my passions and figure out a path for the future. It’s time to focus and take action.

Pinterest challenge!

Last year, when I made my inspiration board, I appreciated a tangible reminder of what I’d like to accomplish in the new year. I didn’t realize that there was another way, until I was sitting at the breakfast nook taping photos to a sparkly piece of paper. Pinterest! Derp. I fought Pinterest for the same reason I write to-do lists on paper instead of using my phone, but this year, I am happy to welcome a little technology. Please feel free to create your inspiration board with 2013 goals and the hashtag #inspirationboard . Leave a link to your board in the comments – I’ll pick 5 to feature this Friday and will send ya a little prize 🙂 You can check out mine here, if you’d like (still a work in progress).

Everyday, I’m so thankful just to be alive and for all of the blessings we have. I feel like a lucky girl, in so many ways, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for lucky # ’13.

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121 Comments

I’m still working on deciding what I want to be when I grow up as well. Always throws my college students for a loop when their Psychology professor tells them that lol. Best of luck achieving your goals this year!

This is a great idea! I think your appreciation of your life makes you a true inspiration!

In all honesty, this year is the first that I’ve really made goals for the new year and I feel refreshed and ready to conquer – I am excited to make some changes and see where life takes me over the next year!

Mine is small and not very colorful, but I decided to keep the resolutions to a minimum this year. Rather than list a bunch of things to try/hope to accomplish, I decided to pick 7 reasonable goals that I think I can *actually* succeed at!

I have never done an inspiration board, but I love the idea. My 17 year old daughter is doing the 12 Days of Christmas challenge with me. I think we need to schedule a mother/daughter date, including my 12 year old daughter also, and make boards for this year. Perfect timing as the eldest graduates this year and the youngest becomes a teenager. Sounds like a great time to start a new tradition with my girls!

Hello Gina!
I love you posts! I love the New Year and the feeling of a fresh start. I also love your inspiration board idea. I started one and am finding it really motivating! Check mine out! http://pinterest.com/erinrenae/inspirationboard/

I have been following your blog for just over a year now and it helped motivate me through a few rough patches, so major thanks for that!! I hope you can see just how much your blog inspires!

I’m totally starting an inspiration 2013 board (when I was an Educator at lululemon they gave me the idea, but I didn’t follow through due to my prego exhaustion and pukyness last year then this nifty blog reminded me!)

Again, huge thanks for being an inspiration! You remind me that fitness, mommahood, personal goals and time with the hubby is possible but you keep it real that plans change.

Happy New Year Gina!!! Hope you have a wonderful, happy, and healthy year ahead for you and your family! I love the idea of a pinterest vision board. I actually have a 10 year vision one on mine so why not create a board for this year. So fun!

I love that post Gina. Such a nice round up of your 2012 and a great list of goals. I am with you on the clean closet. I am always so proud when I cleaned it up I even go back several times to just look at it 😉 but maybe also because I know that it always only lasts for about 1 month….. Happy New Year to you and your adorable family!! Ps. So glad that you plan to continue writing, I love it!!!

ehhh, we still have time 🙂
i’m lucky to do so many things that i love, but am still searching for the one thing i’m really good at that i’ll be able to expand and move up with. at my teaching job, there aren’t any opportunities for advancement.

I like the goal of being the person you want to see in others. That is something I strive for too, and I feel like most people just have goals of what they want to accomplish. It’s important to also have goals that aren’t as tangible but equally as meaningful!

It sounds like your 2012 was an amazing year! 🙂 Those ups and downs are something I think most of us have had to endure.. The thing to think about is where you are at the end of them! Sounds like you and your family are doing good! I love your goals for 2013!!

My goals this year involve bringing more attention to my wellness, creating a balance of the many different things I love, obtain a book deal for my manuscript through my amazing lit agent, and to accomplish my 30 by 30 goals!

At first I thought I wouldn’t like doing a inspiration board on pinterest. I tend to do better with something I have to see everyday but then I realized how much easy it is to pin items than actually make a board.

Thanks for the motivation. Here is the link to my inspiration board. It revolves around being a better mommy, cleaning up my eats and just being a better human being in general. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Thanks for the motivation to organize my 2013 goals into an Inspiration Board. I just spent the last hour pinning and feel motivated to make some wonderful changes to fulfil my needs as well as my roles as a wife, mom and blogger.

Thanks for the Inspiration Board idea. I loved it. Also the one you pinned about listening to your kids. So important, My 20 year old is an open book. It comes from always listening to her when she was young, The key is to not react when you hear something shocking! LOLhttp://pinterest.com/atucker529/2013-inspiration-board/

I’m another Olivia, and just so you know, I never met an Olivia who didn’t thank her mom every day for getting the name. 🙂 Love the blog, and love the idea of the inspiration board, especially on Pinterest. I’ll have to get cracking on that one! Happy New Year!

2012 was a year of ups and downs for me…. graduated with my Master’s degree and started teaching, got out of a toxic 4-year relationship, learned to enjoy living on my own, and started a new relationship. Even on the worst of days I realized everything life throws at me is a lesson! That being said, heres to 2013 being a year full of happiness, because in the end that’s my one and only resolution, to be happy!

that is a LOT to happen in the span of a year. big life transformations like that are challenging, but like you said, there’s always a lesson (and the ability to look back, be glad it’s over and that you made it)
sending love to you for a happy new year.

This is an awesome idea and project! Having the visuals is really what I need to stay motivated and this is perfect!

2012 was more of a low year than some, but these last few months have made me eager for starting this new year. I love writing down goals anyway and what better way to share them! Thanks for this great idea.

Hi! Love (love!) your blog!!! Also, happy new year!!! Currently, I am in Phoneix and was wondering if you recommend any resturants? Or have some top favorites? We are in the Awatukee/Chandler area (spelling? Haha) Thanks very much!!!!! : )

Hi, gorgeous! I'm so glad you're here. Welcome to The Fitnessista, a healthy lifestyle blog emphasizing quick workouts, quick recipes and adventures as a wife and mom. Though I am a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and weight loss specialist, the information posted here is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. Please check out the about page for more info. Thank you for reading! ❤️